Mayor Mamdani’s climate mission: Use the public realm to address flooding |
Just two months ago, two New Yorkers died when severe rainfall and flooding hit every neighborhood across the city. In just 20 minutes, Bed-Stuy, Flatbush, and Hollis, which have rarely flooded to this extent, saw the brunt of this cloudburst event. Ask any New Yorker — we know. Images of flooded streets, subways, and homes are our new normal.
Mayor Mamdani, who has already shown an eagerness to improve public life and tackle big challenges has a chance to create a newer normal, one where the city manages climate challenges through innovative and strategic use of the public realm — our streets, parks, public plazas, and government buildings — to address heavy flooding. This upfront investment will reduce the risk to New Yorkers’ lives and pocketbooks.
An analysis by Rebuild by Design of New York City property sales in 2023 revealed that more than 7,300 (1-3 family) homes........